Kings Sloppy in 2-1 Shootout Loss to Predators

The Los Angeles Kings' win streak ended at five games Saturday with their 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. 

They do extend their point streak to six games. 

The first period was as back-and-forth one where neither team really got control of their game. 

The Kings' fourth line was notable in this period. They did exactly what you want a fourth line to do. 

They were fast, physical and played a simple straight-line game.

Rasmus Kupari and Carl Grundstrom in particular threw a few heavy hits in the first.

The Kings took the lead just under 10 minutes in from an unlikely source. 

Gabe Vilardi fed Mikey Anderson who was streaking down Broadway and had all day to shot. The shutdown defensemen beat Kevin Lankenin high and off the mask to put the Kings up 1-0.

Despite taking the lead, the Kings couldn't take advantage of the momentum and weathered a push back from the Predators.

The Kings started to take control of the game until Alex Iafallo's tripping penalty with one minute remaining.

Just five seconds into the ensuing power play, the Predators tied the game. Tommy Novak's seeing eye shot from the point beat everyone, including Pheonix Copley.

The second period was one of the sloppier periods the Kings have played in a while.

They had a few decent chances. Quinton Byfield had a nice drive to the net that he almost tucked home far side.

Viktor Arvidsson had a solid chance in front and Adrian Kempe almost tucked home with a defensemen draped over him.

The Kings power play once again struggled to produce anything in the second period. 

Nashville had a few good chances of their own as well. 

Matt Duchene stripped Kupari just inside the Predators defensive zone and had a chance to attack a defensemen one-on-one.

He got a good shot off the rush but couldn't beat Copley. 

Both teams were content clogging up the neutral zone and playing a physical brand of hockey, so not much happened offensively. 

The third period didn't provide too much entertainment either.

Copley came up with a few nice saves, particularly a left to right pad save on Roman Josi. But overall not a ton happened.

The Kings got another power play chance late after Byfield drew a trip, but once again failed to produce anything off it. 

The game needed overtime.

Two of the best chances went Nashville's way, first Philip Tomasino had a big chance with a partial breakaway. But he whiffed on the puck and didn't get a shot off. 

Tomasino got a second big chance with just two seconds left after receiving a Josi pass at the top of the right circle. Tomasino got the uncontested shot off, but Copley denied him.

The Kings best chance came on a two-on-one between Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, with the former choosing to shot with Tyson Barrie taking away the pass.

Lankinen denied Kopitar with the glove.

Copley's late save would take the game into a shootout.

Lankinen did his homework and had the Kings shooters figured out.

Vilardi tried his usual backhand, forehand over the glove move. But Lankinen read it all the way. 

Duchene came in and beat Copley with a shot on Nashville's first attempt.

Lankinen was also ready for Kempe's usual five-hole move. Denying his attempt with ease. 

Copley and Lankinen then traded saves, sending Nashville home with two points.